Method and System to Determine an Application Delivery Server Based on Geo-Location Information

ABSTRACT

A method and system to determine a web server based on geo-location information is disclosed. The system includes: a local DNS server coupled to a web client; a plurality of web servers; and a global load balancer coupled to the local DNS server. The global load balancer: receives a request for a web service sent by the web client, the request comprising local DNS server information; determines a geographic location for the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information; determines a web server from the plurality of web servers based on the requested web service; determines a geographic location for the determined web server; determines that the geographic location for the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the determined web server; selects the determined web server; and sends a response comprising information on the selected web server to the local DNS server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This invention relates generally to data communications, and morespecifically, to a method and system to balance web server load based onglobal geographic location.

2. Background

Web sites are known to use many web servers to serve large numbers ofweb clients accessing the web sites. The web servers, or applicationdelivery servers, deliver web applications such as web pages, videos,file transfers, photo transfers, office applications, emailapplications, enterprise web applications and many other consumer andenterprise applications using web technologies. In a typical deploymentscenario, the web servers are behind a server load balancer (SLB). TheSLB receives a web service request from a web client, selects a webserver, and relays the web service request to the selected web server.The network architecture using a SLB and a plurality of web serversallows not only a web site to serve many web clients, but also providesfault resiliency to a web site in case one or more web servers fail,while the remaining web servers continue to provide web services. A website may deploy a plurality of SLB's to provide fault tolerance to oneor more SLB failures. However, as a web site grows in popularity, asingle or a few SLB's with a plurality of web servers may not besufficient. Large number of SLB's and a very large number of web serversare necessary to serve a large web site such as google.com or yahoo.com.

Moreover, the large number of web servers and SLB's are hosted in aplurality of data centers, so as to provide further fault tolerance incase of data center failure. The data centers are usually far apart,with at least tens or hundreds of miles apart. When a web clientaccesses the web site, the web service request is assigned to a webserver in one of the data centers. The quality of the web service thendepends on the chosen data center, where the service quality may dependon the distance between the data center and the web client, the load ofthe web servers in the data center, the network capacity of the webservers in the data center to the web client, and other network orcomputing factors between the data center and the web client. Thus thelocation information of the web client becomes an important factor inselecting a data center, and in selecting a web server of the datacenter to serve the web service request from the web client.

It is common to use a Domain Name System (DNS) to deploy a plurality ofweb servers for a web service based on a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).In one embodiment, a web client sends an inquiry to a DNS server with adomain name, which is a part of the URL. A DNS server may responds witha plurality of records, each of which refers to a web server. In onemethod, the web client uses the plurality of records referencing theplurality of web servers to determine a particular web server. In onemethod, the web client selects a web server using a round robin schemeon the plurality of web servers. In one method, the web client selects aweb server used in a previous web session on the same web service. Inone method, the web client selects a web server different from aprevious web session on the same web service where the previous websession encountered an error.

In one method, a local DNS server assists the web client in selecting aweb server. The local DNS server receives information for a plurality ofweb servers from a global DNS server. In one embodiment, the local DNSserver selects a web server from the plurality of web servers. Forexample, the local DNS server selects a web server using a round robinscheme. In one method, the local DNS server selects the first web serverfrom the plurality of web servers.

However, as mentioned above, there is no existing method to select a webserver based on location information or to balance web server load basedon location information, so as to provide a better web service, and toprovide fault tolerance upon data center failure.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and method to balance web serverload based on location information of a web client.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method and system to determine a web serverbased on geo-location information. In a method aspect, the inventioncomprises: receiving a request for a web service sent by a web client,the web client being coupled to a local domain name system (DNS) server,the request comprising local DNS server information; determining ageographic location for the local DNS server based on the local DNSserver information; determining a web server from a plurality of webservers based on the requested web service; determining a geographiclocation for the determined web server; determining that the geographiclocation for the local DNS server matches the geographic location forthe determined web server; selecting the determined web server; andsending a response comprising information on the selected web server tothe local DNS server.

In one aspect, the local DNS server information comprises an IP addressfor the local DNS server, wherein a server location database is queriedusing the IP address for the local DNS server, wherein the serverlocation database comprises a plurality of entries, each entrycomprising an IP address and a corresponding geographic location,wherein the server location database identifies one or more entriescomprising an IP address matching the IP address for the local DNSserver, wherein a corresponding geographic location from the identifiedentry is received from the server location database as the geographiclocation.

In one aspect, the request further comprises a domain name, wherein aweb server location database is queried using the domain name, whereinthe web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, eachentry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and acorresponding geographic location, wherein the web server locationdatabase identifies one or more entries comprising a domain namematching the domain name from the request, wherein a correspondinggeographic location from the identified entry is received from the webserver location database as the geographic location for the determinedweb server.

In a system aspect, the invention comprises: a plurality of web servers;and a global load balancer coupled to the local DNS server. The globalload balancer is coupled to a local DNS server coupled to a web client,where the global load balancer: receives a request for a web servicesent by the web client, the request comprising local DNS serverinformation; determines a geographic location for the local DNS serverbased on the local DNS server information; determines a web server fromthe plurality of web servers based on the requested web service;determines a geographic location for the determined web server;determines that the geographic location for the local DNS server matchesthe geographic location for the determined web server; selects thedetermined web server; and sends a response comprising information onthe selected web server to the local DNS server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a global geographic location or geo-location basedweb service load balancing.

FIG. 1 a illustrates embodiments of geo-locations.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process to determine geo-location of local DNSserver.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process to obtain geo-location and web server usingdomain name.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process to compare geo-location of local DNS serverand geo-location of web server.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process to select web server based on additionalweb service performance factors.

FIG. 5 a illustrates several embodiments of performance factor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skillin the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the contextof a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications tothe embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art andthe generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus,the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown butis to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a global geographic location or geo-location basedweb service load balancing. Web service 132 is offered to web clients112 and 113 in a global data network 100. Data network 100 includes theInternet. In one embodiment, data network 100 includes cellular datanetwork, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, athird-generation cellular (3G) network, or a fourth-generation cellular(4G) network. In one embodiment, data network 100 includes an Internetservice provider network. In one embodiment, data network 100 includes awireless network, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot network. In one embodiment,data network 100 includes a wired network such as Ethernet. In oneembodiment, data network 100 includes a corporate internal network orintranet, a virtual private network (VPN) or an extranet. In oneembodiment, data network 100 includes a service provider internalnetwork or a walled garden service network within the service providernetwork.

In one embodiment, web client 112 is a computing device with web accessthrough data network 100. In one embodiment, web client 112 access datanetwork 100 using Internet Protocol (IP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP),or any other web-based protocol. In one example, web client 112 includesa web browser, a web widget accessing data network 100, a web-basedoperating system accessing data network 100 using a web-based protocol.In one embodiment, web client 112 includes Google Android, GoogleChrome™ or other web-based operating system. In one embodiment, webclient 112 includes Microsoft Internet Explorer™, Google Chrome™,Firefox®, Apple Safari™, Opera or other web browser. In one embodiment,web client 112 is a personal computer, a notebook, a netbook, a mobileInternet device (MID), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone,a mobile phone, a media player, a mobile media player, a mobiletelevision set, a television set, a set-top box, a net-top box, anInternet-enabled DVD player or other computing appliance with web accessto data network 100.

In one embodiment, web service 132 includes a service offered by a website or a web portal. In one embodiment, web service 132 includes aUniform Resource Locator (URL), such as http://www.abc.com,ftp://ftp.aaa.com, https://secure.online-banking.com,www.a-web-site.com, http://www.abc.com/banner.png,https://secure.online-banking.com/?user=jonny+password=0CB56D7104. Inone embodiment, web service 132 comprises domain name 133. For example,domain name 133 can be www.abc.com, ftp.aaa.com,secure.online-banking.com, www.a-web-site.com, abc.com, a-web-site.com,on-line-banking.com. In one embodiment, domain name 133 relates to thetype of web service 132. In one embodiment, www.abc.com relates to HTTPservice; ftp.aaa.com relates to file transfer (FTP) services;secure.online-banking.com relates to secure services.

Web server 142 serves web service 132. In one embodiment, web server 142is a computing device servicing web service 132. In one embodiment, webserver 142 includes a web server software such as Apache HTTP Server,Websphere™, Weblogic™, Internet Information Services (IIS)™, or otherweb server software. In one embodiment, web server 142 is a server loadbalancer (SLB). In one embodiment, web server 142 includes a pluralityof server computers serving web service 132. In one embodiment webserver 142 includes geo-location 146. In one embodiment web server 142serves web service 132 within geo-location 146. Web server 143 alsoserves web service 132. In one embodiment web server 143 includesgeo-location 147 and serves web service 132 within geo-location 147. Inone embodiment, web servers 142 and 143 serve web service 132 in theircorresponding geo-location 146 and geo-location 147 respectively. Byspreading the load for serving web service 132, web servers 142 and 143provide better services for web service 132.

In order to determine web server 142 for web service 132, web client 112obtains domain name 133 and queries local domain name system (DNS)server 122 using domain name 133 for web server 142. Like-wise, webclient 113 obtains domain name 133 and queries local DNS server 123. Inone embodiment, local DNS server 122 sends domain name 133 to DNS server125. In one embodiment, DNS server 125 determines web server 142, usingdomain name 133 and geo-location 126 of local DNS server 122.

In one embodiment, geo-location 126 indicates a geographic location oflocal DNS server 122. In one embodiment geo-location 126 includes acountry such as United States, Japan, Luxemburg, or Egypt. In oneembodiment geo-location 126 includes a state or province such asCalifornia of United States, or Guangzhou of China. In one embodimentgeo-location 126 includes a region such as an island, a metropolitan,north-east region of United States, west coast, or a tri-city area. Inone embodiment, geo-location 126 includes a city such as San Francisco,Tokyo, Beijing, Paris, or London. In one embodiment, geo-location 126includes a district in a city such as down-town, up-town, Richmonddistrict of San Francisco, or Chinatown of New York City. In oneembodiment, geo-location 126 includes a street block, a building, acampus, or a street address. In one embodiment, geo-location 126includes an area served by an Internet gateway, a hot-spot access point,a mobile Internet gateway, a wireless gateway, or a wireless or cellularbase station. In one embodiment, geo-location 126 includes hierarchicalinformation of locations, such as down-town district of San Francisco inCalifornia State of United States. In one embodiment, geo-location 126includes global position information such as longitude and latitudeinformation. In one embodiment, geo-location 126 includes heightinformation or floor information in a building, such as 1000 feet abovesea level, 3^(rd) floor, or basement. In one embodiment, geo-location126 includes a neighborhood or area around a location. For example,geo-location 126 indicates 3^(rd) floor of a building and an area of twofloors above and one floor below the 3^(rd) floor. In another example,geo-location 126 indicates a 5 miles area from a building or a landmark.

FIG. 1 a illustrates embodiments of geo-location 126 and geo-location146. For example, NA.US.CA.SF indicates San Francisco (SF) city ofCalifornia (CA) state in United States (US) country of North America(NA) continent; NA.US.CA indicates California state in United States ofNorth America continent; CA.LA indicates Los Angeles (LA) city ofCalifornia (CA); CA.PA.DN indicates Downtown (DN) district of Palo Alto(PA) of California; NY.NY.(−73.98592, 40.74831) indicates geo-physicallocation of longitude −73.98592, latitude 40.74831 in New York (NY) cityof New York (NY) state; AS.JP indicates Japan (JP) country of Asia (AS)continent.

In one embodiment, geo-location 126 indicates a geographic location ofweb client 112, which is served by local DNS server 122 for DNSservices. In one scenario, web client 112 is in New York City downtownand local DNS server 122 serves DNS services for New York City. In oneembodiment, geo-location 126 indicates the location of local DNS server122. In one scenario, local DNS server 122 is located in an office inNew York City downtown area. In one embodiment, geo-location 126indicates the location of an IP gateway connecting to web client 112. Inone embodiment, the IP gateway is a Digital Subscriber Line AccessMultiplexer (DSLAM) located in a Central Office (CO) in New York Citydowntown. In these embodiments, geo-location 126 indicates New York Citydowntown.

After determining web server 142, DNS server 125 replies to local DNSserver 122 information about web server 142. In one embodiment, thereply includes an IP address of web server 142. In one embodiment, thereply includes a host name of web server 142. In one embodiment, thereply includes an identity of web server 142. Local DNS server 122replies to web client 112 of web server 142. Web client 112 thenestablishes a web session with web server 142 to process web service132.

Since web clients 112 and 113 request web service 132 from possiblydifferent geo-locations, it is important for the web service 132 to beserved in the most efficient manner. For example, web service 132desires to be served with the best response time. Web service 132 usesweb server 142 with lower network latency to web client 112. In oneembodiment, the network latency is directly correlated to the distancebetween web server 142 and web client 112. If web server 142 isgeographically closer to web client 112 than from web server 143 to webclient 112, web server 142 would have lower network latency to webclient 112 than the network latency between web server 143 to web client112. In one embodiment, web service 132 is to serve with the mostsecurity. Web service 132 will use web server 142 with better securityto server web client 112. In one embodiment, web service 132 is to beserved with the most bandwidth or computing resource. In one embodimentweb server 142 is has more CPU capability and more network capacity, andserves web client 112 better than web server 143.

Global load balancer 127 comprises the necessary geo-locationinformation to determine if web server 142 best serves web service 132to web client 112. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 includesgeo-location 146 of web server 142. In one embodiment, geo-location 146is a location where web server 142 resides. In one embodiment, webserver 142 serves web client 112 in geo-location 146. In anotherembodiment, web server 142 may not be where it resides, but the webserver 142 serves web client 112 served by local DNS server 122 ingeo-location 146. In one embodiment, web server 142 has more networkcapacity to geo-location 146 and would serve web client 112 better. Inone embodiment, web server 132 indicates a secure web service. Webserver 142 has strong secure connection to geo-location 146 and wouldbetter serve web client 112.

In one embodiment, geo-location 146 relates to the country of origin ofdomain name 133. For example, domain name 133 being www.abc.com.cn has acountry of origin of China; ftp.aaa.com.de has a country of origin ofDenmark and indicates a file transfer service.

In one embodiment, DNS server 125 obtains domain name 133 from local DNSserver 122. In one embodiment, DNS server 125 sends domain name 133 andinformation about local DNS server 122 to global load balancer 127. Inone embodiment, DNS server 125 sends the IP address 124 of local DNSserver 122 to global load balancer 127. In one embodiment, web server142 comprises a plurality of servers, and the global load balancer 127is a server load balancer balancing the load of these servers. In oneembodiment, global load balancer 127 is a network device residing indata network 100. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 is acomputer or a computing server. In one embodiment, global load balancer127 includes a software running in a network device or a computer. Inone embodiment, global load balancer 127 includes storage and memory tobe used in determining web server. In one embodiment, global loadbalancer 127 includes a network appliance or a network gateway.

Global load balancer 127 determines geo-location 126 based on IP address124. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 determines geo-location126 based on domain name 133. FIG. 2 will illustrate a process todetermine geo-location 126.

In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 obtains web server 142 basedon domain name 133 such that web server 142 can serve web service 132,the web service 132 including domain name 133. Global load balancer 127obtains geo-location 146 based on web server 142. In a later section inthis specification, FIG. 3 illustrates a process to obtain web server142 and geo-location 146. After obtaining geo-location 146, global loadbalancer 127 compares geo-location 146 and geo-location 126 to determineif web server 142 provides optimal service to domain name 133. FIG. 4will illustrate a process to compare geo-location 126 and geo-location146. If there is a match, global load balancer 127 selects web server142. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 responds to DNS server125 with web server 142 to serve the web service 132. In one embodiment,global load balancer 127 responds to local DNS server 123 with webserver 142.

In one embodiment, the global load balancer 127 determines there is nomatch between geo-location 126 and geo-location 146 and selects webserver 142 using other methods. In one embodiment, global DNS server 125selects web server 142, and the global load balancer 127 determinesthere is no match between geo-location 126 and geo-location 146. Globalload balancer 127 then responds with web server 142 to local DNS server123.

In one embodiment, DNS server 125 includes functionality of global loadbalancer 127. DNS server 125 responds to local DNS server 123 with webserver 142. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 includesfunctionality of DNS server 125 and responds to local DNS server 123with web server 142. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127intercepts the response from DNS server 125 to local DNS server 122, andalters the response to indicate web server 142 to serve domain name 133.In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 determines there is no matchbetween geo-location 126 and geo-location 146, and does not alter theresponse.

In one embodiment, DNS server 125 obtains geo-location 146 of web server142, and sends geo-location 146 to global load balancer 127. Global loadbalancer 127 uses geo-location 146 and domain name 133 to select webserver 142. Global load balancer 127 responds to DNS server 125 with webserver 142. DNS server 125 then responds to local DNS server 123 withweb server 142.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process to determine geo-location 126 of local DNSserver 122.

Local DNS server 122 sends a DNS request 157 to DNS server 125. In oneembodiment global load balancer 127 includes the functionality of DNSserver 125, and obtains DNS request 157. In one embodiment, global loadbalancer 127 is a network appliance between DNS server 125 and local DNSserver 122. Global load balancer 127 receives DNS request 157 from datanetwork 100. Local DNS server 122 includes IP address 124. In oneembodiment IP address 124 is the host IP address of local DNS server 122in data network 100. In one embodiment, DNS request 157 is based onInternet protocol (IP), and DNS request 157 includes IP address 124 inthe IP packet header. In one embodiment, DNS request 157 includes IPaddress 124 in the DNS request 157 packet payload. In one embodiment,request 157 includes domain name 133.

Global load balancer 127 receives request 157 and obtains IP address124. Global load balancer 127 connects to a DNS server location database173. In one embodiment, server location database 173 is a database andglobal load balancer 127 uses IP address 124 to query server locationdatabase 173. DNS server location database 173 includes location entry161 consisting of IP address 184 and geo-location 126. Server locationdatabase 173 matches IP address 124 against location entry 161 bymatching IP address 124 against IP address 184. In one embodiment, IPaddress 184 is the same as IP address 124. For example, IP address 124is 75.105.78.235, and IP address 184 is 75.105.78.235. In oneembodiment, IP address 184 includes a range of IP addresses wherein therange of IP addresses includes IP address 124. For example IP address184 is 75.105.78.224-255. Server location database 173 determines thatIP address 124 matches IP address 184, and determines location entry 161matches IP address 124. Global load balancer 127 obtains geo-location126 from location entry 161. In one embodiment, DNS server locationdatabase 173 includes a storage containing location entry 161. Globalload balancer 127 obtains location entry 161 from DNS server locationdatabase 173.

In one embodiment, server location database 173 includes a storage forstoring location entry 161. Global load balancer 127 retrieves locationentry 161 and matches IP address 124 against location entry 161. In oneembodiment server location database 173 is a computing server connectingto global load balancer 127 over a data network such as data network100. Global load balancer 127 sends a request comprising IP address 124to server location database 173. Server location database 173 matches IPaddress 124 against location entry 161, and sends a response comprisinglocation entry 161 or geo-location 126 to global load balancer 127.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process to obtain geo-location 146 and web server142 using domain name 133.

In one embodiment, DNS server 125 sends domain name 133 to global loadbalancer 127. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 obtains domainname 133 from DNS request 157.

In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 connects to a web serverlocation database 175. Web server location database 175 includes webserver location entry 165. In one embodiment web server location entry165 includes domain name 135. In one embodiment, web server locationdatabase 175 includes a storage which comprises web server locationentry 165. Global load balancer 127 obtains web server location entry165 from web server location database 175 and compares domain name 133against domain name 135. In one embodiment, domain name 133 iswww.abc.com and domain name 135 is www.abc.com and the two domain namesare the same. Global load balancer 127 determines there is a matchbetween domain name 133 and domain name 135. In one embodiment, domainname 133 is www.abc.com and domain name 135 is abc.com. Domain name 133is a sub-domain of domain name 135. Global load balancer 127 determinesthat there is a match between the two domain name 133 and domain name135. In one embodiment, domain name 135 includes all domain names fromwww.a.com to www.i.com, where domain name 135 indicates including alldomain names within the alphabetical order from www.a.com to www.i.com.Global load balancer 127 determines there is a match between domain name133 and domain name 135. In one embodiment, web server location entry165 includes web server 142. Global load balancer 127 obtains web server142 from location entry 165.

In one embodiment, domain name 135 is www.abc.*, indicating domain name135 includes any domain name with prefix www.abc. Global load balancer127 determines domain name 133, being www.abc.com, has a prefix www.abc,and determines domain name 133 matches domain name 135.

In one embodiment, web server location database 175 is a computerserver, and connects to global load balancer 127 via data network 100.In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 sends a request comprisingdomain name 133 to web server location database 175. In one embodimentweb server location database 175 includes web server location entry 165.Web server location database 175 matches domain name 133 against webserver location entry 165, and determines there is a match. Web serverlocation database 175 sends web server location entry 165 to global loadbalancer 127. In one embodiment, web server location database 175 sendsweb server 142 to global load balancer 127.

In one embodiment, web server location entry 165 includes geo-location146. Global load balancer 127 obtains geo-location 146 from web serverlocation entry 165. In one embodiment, web server location database 175sends geo-location 146 to global load balancer 127. In one embodiment,after global load balancer 127 receives web server 142 from web serverlocation database 175, global load balancer 127 sends a requestcomprising web server 142 to web server location database 175. Webserver location database 175 responds with geo-location 146. In oneembodiment, after global load balancer 127 obtains web server 142,global load balancer 127 looks up web server location database 175storage, and retrieves geo-location 146.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process to compare geo-location 126 of local DNSserver 122 and geo-location 146 of web server 142.

In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 compares geo-location 126and geo-location 146 and determines if there is a match. In oneembodiment, geo-location 126 is a sub-location or sub-area ofgeo-location 146. In one scenario, geo-location 126 is NA.US.CA.SF andgeo-location 146 is NA.US.CA. Geo-location 126 is the San Francisco citysub-area of geo-location 146 of California State. Global load balancer127 determines there is a match. In another scenario, geo-location 126is CA.PA.DN, or downtown district of Palo Alto city of California, andgeo-location 126 is CA.PA or Palo Alto city of California. Global loadbalancer 127 determines there is a match. In one scenario, geo-location126 is CA.PA.DN and geo-location 146 is CA.LA or Los Angeles city ofCalifornia. Global load balancer 127 determines there is no match. Inone embodiment, geo-location 126 is NY.NY,(−73.98592, 40.74831) andgeo-location 146 is NY.NY.DN or downtown of New York city of New YorkState. Global load balancer 127 calculates the distance between thegeo-location 126 and downtown of New York City, and determines thatgeo-location 126 is in the downtown area. Global load balancer 127determines there is a match. In another scenario, geo-location 126 isNY.NY.(−73.98592, 40.74831) and geo-location 146 is NY.NY.(−73.994167,40.751667; 10 miles). Global load balancer 127 calculates the distancebetween global positions (−73.98592, 40.74831) and (−73.994167,40.751667) is less than 10 miles. Global load balancer 127 determinesthere is a match between geo-location 126 and geo-location 146.

Upon determination of a match between geo-location 126 and geo-location146, global load balancer 127 selects web server 142 to serve webservice 132, and responds to DNS server 125, or local DNS server 122.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process to select web server 142 based onadditional web service performance factors.

In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 further selects web server142 based on performance factor 192. FIG. 5 a illustrates severalembodiments of performance factor 192. In one embodiment performancefactor 192 includes latency. In one embodiment web server location entry165 includes latency 185. Latency 185 indicates a summary latency ofprevious web sessions between web server 142 and other web clientswithin geo-location 146. In one embodiment, the web sessions are relatedto web service 142. In one embodiment, latency 185 indicates a summarylatency of previous web sessions within a period of time, such as withina week, a month, a day or last hour. In one embodiment, the period oftime is the morning hours within a month.

In one embodiment web server location database 175 includes web serverlocation entry 167 for web server 143. Web server location entry 167includes geo-location 147 and latency 186. In one embodiment, globalload balancer 127 determines there is a match between geo-location 126and geo-location 146, and between geo-location 126 and geo-location 147.Global load balancer 127 compares latency 185 and latency 186. In oneembodiment, latency 185 is smaller than latency 186. Global loadbalancer 127 selects web server 142. In one embodiment, web serverlocation database 175 compares latency 185 and latency 186, and selectsweb server 142.

In one embodiment, web server 142 is selected to serve web service 132to web client 112. During the web session, web server 142 determines alatency of the web session, and updates latency 185. In one embodiment,web server 142 measures the web session latency by measuring a roundtrip time of a network packet from web server 142 to web client 112.

In one embodiment, web server 142 measures a latency between web server142 and local DNS server 122, by measuring a round trip time of a packetfrom web server 142 to local DNS server 122. In one embodiment, webserver 142 obtains IP address 124 of local DNS server 122 from globalload balancer 127, uses IP address 124 to communicate with local DNSserver 122, and measures the round trip time.

In one embodiment, performance factor 192 includes a bandwidth ornetwork capacity. In one embodiment, web server location entry 165includes network capacity 187, which indicates the network capacity orbandwidth between web server 142 and data network 100. In oneembodiment, network capacity 187 is based on the connection capacitybetween web server 142 and geo-location 146. In one embodiment, networkcapacity 187 is based on certain time of the day. In one example,network capacity 187 in the business hours is higher than networkcapacity 187 in the evening hours. In one example, network capacity 187during lunch hours is higher than network capacity 187 during midmorning.

In one embodiment, web server location entry 167 includes networkcapacity 188. In one embodiment, global load balancer 127 comparesnetwork capacity 187 and network capacity 188, and determines thatnetwork capacity 187 is larger than network capacity 188. Global loadbalancer 127 selects web server 142. In one embodiment, web serverlocation database 1 xx compares network capacity 187 and networkcapacity 188 and selects web server 142.

In one embodiment, performance factor 192 includes processingcapability. In one embodiment, web server location 165 includesprocessing capability 191. In one embodiment, processing capability 191indicates the computing capability of web server 142. In one example,processing capability 191 includes a processing speed, a number ofprocessors web server 142 has, a memory capacity, or other processingcapabilities, or a combination of such processing capabilities. In oneembodiment, processing capability 191 is related to geo-location 146. Inone embodiment, processing capability 191 is related to a time of theday. For example, processing capability 191 is lower during businesshours than during evening hours. In one example, processing capability191 is higher in the weekend than during weekdays.

In one embodiment, web server location 167 includes processingcapability 193. Global load balancer 127 compares processing capability191 and processing capability 193, and selects web server 142 whenprocessing capability 191 is better than processing capability 193. Inone embodiment, processing capability 191 indicates an averageprocessing time to serve a web session for web service 132 by web server142. In one embodiment, processing capability 191 indicates the worst orbest processing time to serve a web session for web service 132 by webserver 142.

The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardwareand software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention isimplemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware,resident software, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or apropagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include asemiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of opticaldisks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compactdisk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

Although the invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A method for determining a web server, comprising: (a) receiving arequest for a web service sent by a web client, the web client beingcoupled to a local domain name system (DNS) server, the requestcomprising local DNS server information; (b) determining a geographiclocation for the local DNS server based on the local DNS serverinformation; (c) determining a web server from a plurality of webservers based on the requested web service; (d) determining a geographiclocation for the determined web server; (e) determining that thegeographic location for the local DNS server matches the geographiclocation for the determined web server; (f) selecting the determined webserver; and (g) sending a response comprising information on theselected web server to the local DNS server.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the receiving (a) comprises: (a1) receiving the request for theweb service from the local DNS server, the request comprising the localDNS server information.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving(a) comprises: (a1) receiving the request for the web service from aglobal DNS server coupled to the local DNS server, the requestcomprising the local DNS server information.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the geographic location for the local DNS server comprises oneof the following: a geographic location for the web client; a geographiclocation at which the local DNS server resides; or a geographic locationof an IP gateway connected to the web client.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the geographic location for the determined web server comprisesone of the following: a geographic location at which the determined webserver resides; a local DNS server geographic location serviced by thedetermined web server; or a web client geographic location serviced bythe determined web server.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the localDNS server information comprises an IP address for the local DNS server,wherein the determining (b) comprises: (b1) querying a server locationdatabase using the IP address for the local DNS server, wherein theserver location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entrycomprising an IP address and a corresponding geographic location,wherein the server location database identifies one or more entriescomprising an IP address matching the IP address for the local DNSserver; and (b2) receiving from the server location database acorresponding geographic location from the identified entry as thegeographic location of the local DNS server.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the IP address in the identified entry matches the IP addressfor the local DNS server when: the IP address in the identified entry isan exact match to the IP address for the local DNS server; or the IPaddress for the local DNS server is within a range of IP addresses inthe identified entry.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the requestfurther comprises a domain name, wherein the determining (c) and thedetermining (d) comprises: (c1) querying a web server location databaseusing the domain name, wherein the web server location databasecomprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, acorresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location,wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entriescomprising a domain name matching the domain name from the request; and(d1) receiving from the web server location database a correspondinggeographic location from the identified entry as the geographic locationfor the determined web server.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thedomain name in the identified entry matches the domain name from therequest when: the domain name in the identified entry is an exact matchto the domain name from the request; the domain name from the request iswithin a range of domain names in the identified entry; the identifiedentry contains a domain name prefix and the domain name from the requestcontains the prefix; or the domain name from the request is a sub-domainof the domain name in the identified entry.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the geographic location for the local DNS server matches thegeographic location for the determined web server when: the geographiclocation for the local DNS server is an exact match to the geographiclocation for the determined web server; the geographic location for thelocal DNS server is a sub-area of the geographic location for thedetermined web server; the geographic location for the local DNS serveris within the geographic location for the determined web server; or thegeographic location for the local DNS server is within a predeterminedistance from the geographic location for the determined web server. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of web serverscomprises a plurality of server computers servicing the requested webservice.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein each entry further comprisesa performance factor, wherein the web server location databaseidentifies a plurality of entries comprising the domain name matchingthe domain name from the request, wherein the receiving (d1), thedetermining (e), and the selecting (f) comprises: (d1i) receiving fromthe web server location database the corresponding web servers, thecorresponding geographic locations, and the performance factors from theidentified entries; (e1) determining if any of the correspondinggeographic locations match the geographic location for the local DNSserver; (e2) comparing the performance factors for the correspondinggeographic locations that match the geographic location for the localDNS server; (f1) determining one of the corresponding web servers basedon the comparison in (e2); and (f2) selecting the determined web server.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the performance factor comprises alatency, wherein the determining (f1) comprises: (f1i) determining thecorresponding web server with a smallest latency.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the performance factor comprises a network capacity,wherein the determining (f1) comprises: (f1i) determining thecorresponding web server with a largest network capacity.
 15. The methodof claim 12, wherein the performance factor comprise a processingcapability, wherein the determining (f1) comprises: (f1i) determiningthe corresponding web server with a best processing capability.
 16. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the receiving (a), the selecting (f), and thesending (g) comprises: (a1) intercepting a response to the request sentby a global DNS server to the local DNS server; (f1) modifying theresponse to indicate the selected web server; and (g1) sending themodified response comprising information on the selected web server tothe local DNS server.
 17. A system, comprising: a plurality of webservers; and a global load balancer coupled to a local domain namesystem (DNS) server, the local DNS server coupled to a web client,wherein the global load balancer: receives a request for a web servicesent by the web client, the request comprising local DNS serverinformation; determines a geographic location for the local DNS serverbased on the local DNS server information; determines a web server fromthe plurality of web servers based on the requested web service;determines a geographic location for the determined web server;determines that the geographic location for the local DNS server matchesthe geographic location for the determined web server; selects thedetermined web server; and sends a response comprising information onthe selected web server to the local DNS server.
 18. The system of claim17, further comprising a global DNS server coupled to the local DNSserver and the global load balancer, wherein the global load balancerreceives the request for the web service from the global DNS server, therequest comprising the local DNS server information.
 19. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the global load balancer: intercepts a response to therequest sent by the global DNS serve to the local DNS server; modifiesthe response to indicate the selected web server; and sends the modifiedresponse comprising information for the selected web server to the localDNS server.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographic locationfor the local DNS server comprises one of the following: a geographiclocation for the web client; a geographic location at which the localDNS server resides; or a geographic location of an IP gateway connectedto the web client.
 21. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographiclocation for the determined web server comprises one of the following: ageographic location at which the determined web server resides; a localDNS server geographic location serviced by the determined web server; ora web client geographic location serviced by the determined web server.22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a server locationdatabase comprising a plurality of entries, each entry comprising an IPaddress and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the local DNSserver information comprises an IP address for the local DNS server,wherein the global load balancer queries the server location databaseusing the IP address for the local DNS server, wherein the serverlocation database identifies one or more entries comprising an IPaddress matching the IP address for the local DNS server, wherein theglobal load balancer receives from the server location database acorresponding geographic location from the identified entry as thegeographic location of the local DNS server.
 23. The system of claim 22,wherein the IP address in the identified entry matches the IP addressfor the local DNS server when: the IP address in the identified entry isan exact match to the IP address for the local DNS server; or the IPaddress for the local DNS server is within a range of IP addresses inthe identified entry.
 24. The system of claim 17, further comprising aweb server location database comprising a plurality of entries, eachentry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and acorresponding geographic location, wherein the request further comprisesa domain name, wherein the web server location database identifies oneor more entries comprising a domain name matching the domain name fromthe request, wherein the global load balancer receives from the webserver location database a corresponding geographic location from theidentified entry as the geographic location for the determined webserver.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the domain name in theidentified entry matches the domain name from the request when: thedomain name in the identified entry is an exact match to the domain namefrom the request; the domain name from the request is within a range ofdomain names in the identified entry; the identified entry contains adomain name prefix and the domain name from the request contains theprefix; or the domain name from the request is a sub-domain of thedomain name in the identified entry.
 26. The system of claim 17, whereinthe geographic location for the local DNS server matches the geographiclocation for the determined web server when: the geographic location forthe local DNS server is an exact match to the geographic location forthe determined web server; the geographic location for the local DNSserver is a sub-area of the geographic location for the determined webserver; the geographic location for the local DNS server is within thegeographic location for the determined web server; or the geographiclocation for the local DNS server is within a predetermine distance fromthe geographic location for the determined web server.
 27. The system ofclaim 17, wherein each of the plurality of web servers comprises aplurality of server computers servicing the requested web service. 28.The system of claim 24, wherein each entry further comprises aperformance factor, wherein the web server location database identifiesa plurality of entries comprising the domain name matching the domainname from the request, wherein the global load balancer: receives fromthe web server location database the corresponding web servers, thecorresponding geographic locations, and the performance factors from theidentified entries; determines if any of the corresponding geographiclocations match the geographic location for the local DNS server;compares the performance factors for the corresponding geographiclocations that match the geographic location for the local DNS server;determines one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison;and selects the determined web server.
 29. The system of claim 28,wherein the performance factor comprises a latency, wherein the globalload balancer determines the corresponding web server with a smallestlatency.
 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the performance factorcomprises a network capacity, wherein the global load balancerdetermines the corresponding web server with a largest network capacity.31. The system of claim 28, wherein the performance factor comprise aprocessing capability, wherein the global load balancer determines thecorresponding web server with a best processing capability.
 32. Acomputer program product comprising a computer useable medium having acomputer readable program, wherein the computer readable program whenexecuted on a computer causes the computer to: (a) receive a request fora web service sent by a web client, the web client being coupled to alocal domain name system (DNS) server, the request comprising local DNSserver information; (b) determine a geographic location for the localDNS server based on the local DNS server information; (c) determine aweb server from a plurality of web servers based on the requested webservice; (d) determine a geographic location for the determined webserver; (e) determine that the geographic location for the local DNSserver matches the geographic location for the determined web server;(f) select the determined web server; and (g) send a response comprisinginformation on the selected web server to the local DNS server.